THOUSANDS paraded through the city centre for this year’s Coventry Pride festival – while a fundraising campaign has been launched to keep it free next year.
Rainbow-coloured revellers lined the streets for the fourth annual celebration of the city’s LGBTQ+ community over the weekend (June 8 and 9).
Across the two-day extravaganza, thousands enjoyed live music, comedy, cabaret and drag acts.
This year’s costume theme was ‘Superheroes of Pride’ and a wave of caped LGBTQ+ campaigners provided a citywide show of solidarity.
But behind the scenes, the Coventry Pride charity responsible for organising the festival has issued a funding appeal to ‘secure the future’ of the much-loved event.
It needs to raise £5,000 before next year to keep it free to all – with £500 already raised through an online donations page.
A Pride spokesperson said: “We believe that Coventry Pride should be free for everyone to access regardless of your ability to pay.
“Coventry Pride is a charity and is run by volunteers.
“This year’s pride will cost between £40-50,000 to stage. So if you can afford to donate just £1 that will mean so much to us.
“Coventry Pride is an opportunity for the LGBTQ+ community to be visible and for our sense of belonging in the city to be strengthened.
“It brings people together and builds strong relationships in and across communities.”
This year’s celebrations kicked off after a multi-coloured crowd paraded from Greyfriars Green through to University Square. Despite the weather, market stalls and live acts provided entertainment well into the evening.
Broadgate hosted a family fun-day while Herbert’s Art Gallery and Museum also provided an indoor stage for acts.
Ex-Girls Aloud star Nadine Coyle performed on Saturday at The Yard while trans DJ Eris Drew provided the soundtrack for a mammoth 14-hour party in Fargo Village.
To donate go to: localgiving.org/appeal/keepcovpridefree/
